Swinging with the Gibbons!

The Gibbon Experience is a truly unique eco-sensitive project situated in Northern Laos which gives travellers the chance to get up close and personal to the wonderful black gibbons (Hylobates concolor) located in the area. The project is determined to combat the local idea of slash and burn farming, logging and poaching with the aim of creating innovative methods to solve this problem. The Gibbon Experience has demonstrated that forest conservation can be achieved by a local team and not by solely relying on handouts from other nations.
As a traveller visiting the project, you will be staying in tree-houses and shooting along zip-lines high in the forest canopy, in the hope of viewing the local wildlife. There are various options although the most popular ‘Classic Experience’ spends two nights in the canopy. The project received its name because the black gibbons do actually sing on most days and hearing them is an experience unlike many others.

At Uncover the World, we are fully supportive of these kinds of projects and we are more than happy to offer a stay here as part of any Tailor-made Thailand tours.

Personally, I was in Houayxai in April 2007 and fully intended to take this trip with the Gibbon Experience. Unfortunately, many months of travelling through South-East Asia decided to catch up with me then and stomach upsets meant I was unable to travel – Such a great shame although some of my friends made the trip and had a fantastic time. While I was unable to travel I can certainly vouch for the professionalism and dedication of the Gibbon Experience team in Laos, as well as the friendly people of Houayxai.

Geographically speaking, the project is located in the northwest of Laos although access isn’t straightforward! From Chiang Rai in Thailand you travel to the border town of Chiang Khong where you usually have to stay the night before crossing the Mekong River early the next morning to Laos and the town of Houayxai. It is in Houayxai that the office headquarters for the Gibbon Experience are and where the local team will welcome you. A short jeep ride takes you to the jungle from where you take a guided walk of a few hours (weather depending) to reach the actual site.

The team will of course drop you back in Houayxai from where you can either head back into Thailand, or take the two day longboat trip down the Mekong river towards Laos’ world heritage site - Luang Prabang. The longboat trip is pretty basic with a night spent on the river in Pakbeng. Accommodation options in Pakbeng are of a very low standard and electricity is only available for a brief period in the evening. I have done this trip and would not recommend it to people who are used to travelling in a certain style, ie anything up from simple backpacking!

If anyone would like anymore information about this project then just leave me a message and I will get back to you.